Gang of 5 Fugitives at Large in New Orleans: Three of Them Previously Accused of Homicide
Last week's escape of ten inmates from the Orleans Justice Center led police to jack up the reward for information leading to their capture. Speaking at a press conference, FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp announced an increased reward of $20,000 per inmate, doubling the initial offer from the FBI.
At the same event, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and Col. Robert Hodges, superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, confirmed that three of the fugitives had been recaptured. One more was caught the following day.
Three of the escaped men—Lenton Vanburen, Jermaine Donald, and Derrick Groves—are charged with second-degree murder, according to officials. Police warn that the missing inmates should be considered armed and dangerous.
As the search continues, New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told our website, "The longer the search goes on, the more risk is at hand."
Investigators are reviewing new surveillance footage that shows two inmates wearing street clothes and walking together in New Orleans' French Quarter on Friday morning. One of the escapees, Kendall Myles, was apprehended later that day near the hotel where the footage was taken. Officials reported that he was hiding beneath a car in the garage. Myles is charged with attempted second-degree murder.
Project N.O.L.A, a community-based program operating facial recognition cameras in the city, is partnering with state and city officials in an effort to locate the escaped inmates. According to Bryan LaGarde, executive director of Project N.O.L.A, they might have helped apprehend two subjects if they had received notification just one minute earlier from the sheriff's office.
The prisoners were discovered missing during a routine headcount at the Orleans Justice Center on Friday morning, but it was later determined there were only ten individuals involved since one had been transferred to another cell. The men are believed to have escaped around 1 a.m. on Friday.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick appealed to witnesses of the inmates' alleged crimes to come forward. She emphasized the necessity for public vigilance, as it's "more than likely" the fugitives had help and may have changed out of their jail clothes.
Authorities are investigating the escape and are questioning several jail employees. Governor Landry named the escape as a "failure in the jail system" and assured the public that he would be issuing executive orders to change some aspects of the judiciary system to streamline the trial process.
The state's attorney general is leading the investigation into the escape and will focus on reviewing facility protocols, staff performance, and physical security measures. Additional measures to address the vulnerabilities exposed by the escape are yet to be disclosed.
- The general-news about the escape of ten inmates from the Orleans Justice Center has been dominated by updates on the capture of the fugitives, with images and videos circulating widely.
- As part of an ongoing interview, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry discussed the issue of health and wellness in prisons, suggesting that improved healthcare could help prevent such crimes and escapes in the future.
- Crime-and-justice sections of local news channels have been airing interviews with experts and analysts discussing the implications of the prison escape, highlighting the importance of justice in maintaining order.
- Amidst the chaos, a unique active news story has emerged about a crime suspect, Kendall Myles, who was found hiding under a car in a hotel garage. This unusual hideout was not the first to be uncovered, further emphasizing the general-news story of the escape and ensuing manhunt.
